Shine True, Strong You!
Spring Conference 2026
Step Outside Your Bubble: Do It Scared
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Scan this QR Code to Register
Registration Opens March 7th at 10 a.m.
Hello from Shine On! It is with great pleasure and excitement that we announce the date of our 2026 one-day program for 3rd to 5th-grade girls of the North Country! We are proud to present “Step Outside Your Bubble: Do It Scared,” empowering young girls to step outside their comfort zone and learn to become upstanders.
It will be held April 18th, 2026 at SUNY Plattsburgh’s Memorial Hall from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Registration will open on Saturday, March 7th, 2026 at 10 a.m. by using the QR code above. Registration is first-come, first-served and will fill up quickly, so mark your calendars.
This year’s theme focuses on teaching students the importance of building confidence and overcoming social pressure. Girls will learn tools to focus on their own journey rather than comparing themselves to others. We aim to empower young girls to face their fears and learn that overcoming failure leads to success.
A series of eight interactive workshops will be offered,
encompassing Shine On’s three main themes: media literacy, character strengths, and upstander communication (please see our workshop highlights below).
Students will be led through the conference by trained SUNY Plattsburgh college mentors.
While your daughter steps outside her bubble, we invite parents and guardians to join us for a special workshop designed just for you! Together, we'll explore practical strategies for navigating social media use at home, including how to have open conversations, set healthy boundaries, and extend the "Scroll Less, Shine More" message beyond the conference day.
All cell phones and electronics are strictly prohibited, so please ensure your daughter does not sneak any of these items with her on the day of the conference. Electronics brought to the conference will be taken away for safekeeping for the day and returned when the student is picked up.
Our program has hosted more than 2,500 girls over 17 years as well as an Education Outreach program in about a dozen North Country schools.
Kids Workshops
This hands-on adventure lets participants literally reach beyond their comfort zones! With encouragement all around, everyone will discover the joy of tackling a challenge, trusting their own strength, and celebrating each brave step upward, leaving doubts on the ground below
Discover what makes you truly shine off-screen! The more you scroll, the less you shine. The less you scroll, the more you LIVE in the moment. Fun, interactive activities will help girls realize what they're missing when their nose is in their phone. All girls will receive a copy ot "The Amazing Generation" to take home, too.
In a world full of highlight reels and filtered moments, it’s easy for young girls to compare their everyday lives to someone else’s “perfect” picture. But one image never tells the whole story and not everything is as it seems. This session helps girls recognize the trap of comparison and rediscover the confidence that already lives inside them. They’ll learn that real beauty, worth, and strength don’t come from measuring up to others; they shine from within.
Unlock your brain’s superpower to grow and learn from every challenge! Through hands-on games and positive self-talk, you’ll discover that stepping out of your comfort zone isn’t scary, it's how you become unstoppable.
Take a thrilling leap with a simulation that turns fear into fun! With friends cheering beside you, this immersive experience makes courage feel like an adventure.
Throw punches and kicks at self-doubt. In this high-energy session, each movement builds strength and confidence, turning "I can't" into "I will" with every powerful strike.
Turn the Fear of Missing Out into the joy of being present! Through games and group challenges, you’ll learn that the most exciting moments happen when you step out of the comparison bubble and into the fun happening right in front of you.
Learn to stand strong, speak loudly, and move with purpose in this empowering workshop. Everyone will practice simple, effective techniques that build confidence from the inside out because true strength isn't about size, but about believing you are powerful, capable, and ready.
Parent Workshops
Even young girls are feeling the pressure of comparison and online influence. This workshop equips parents with practical tools to talk about social media without fear or shame, build open communication, and set healthy technological boundaries. Through real-life scenarios and guided role-play, you will learn how to lead with connection, normalize mistakes, and confidently guide your daughter in today’s digital world. A 15-minute Q&A session will follow.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided between the workshops!
Confidence grows when kids learn they can handle hard things. This workshop will help parents gently encourage independence and courage without coming to the rescue too quickly. You will learn how to coach through fear, praise effort over outcome, and use simple communication tools that build resilience and problem-solving skills so your daughter feels supported while stepping bravely outside her comfort zone. A 15-minute Q&A session will follow.
Abbey Paul & Emily Gangi / 2026 Shine On! Chairwomen